Irene Riggin Walston, 87

CRISFIELD - Irene Riggin Walston, age 87, slipped away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, to meet her Lord and Savior and waiting loved ones. She passed away at the residence of her daughter in Cleveland, Tenn., surrounded by her loving children. She was a lifelong resident of Crisfield, where she was born on April 18, 1921, to Howard and Sadie Riggin. She spent her life lovingly as a housewife taking care of her husband and ten children. She loved her church, the Crisfield Church of God, where she served as the Ladies Willing Worker president, Sunday School teacher and choir member. Joining the church at the age of 9, her affiliation spanned 79 years. According to her family, Irene had a great love for the Lord and her family. If possible, she never missed a church service and was usually the last one to leave the premises. She faithfully prayed daily for her children, brothers and sisters and church family. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Walter Willard Walston Jr.; two of her sons, Walter Willard Walston III and Ralph Lester Walston Sr. Other family members gone before her were a granddaughter, Julie Rupert; brothers, Earl Riggin and Ralph Riggin; and parents, Howard and Sadie Riggin. Survivors include eight children, Lois Walston, Wayne Walston and wife Sue, Ken Walston and wife Sheila, Linda Rupert and husband Eddie, and Gayle Hiddleson and husband Vic, all of Cleveland, Tenn., Debbie Lawson and husband Leo, Steve Walston and wife Linda, and Jan Adams and husband Don, all of Crisfield; daughter-in-law, Linda Faye Walston, (widow of Ralph Walston Sr.), of Crisfield; 15 grandchildren, Les Walston, Randy Walston, Adrienne Brown, David Walston, Rod Walston, Adam Walston, Stephanie Walston Robinson, Matthew Walston, Jeff Rupert, Jake Lawson, Caleb Hiddleson, Elijah Hiddleson, Lindsay Walston, Christian Walston and Emily Adams; two sisters, Jeannette Morgan and Elestine Pope; two brothers, John Riggin and Howard Lee Riggin; and ten great-grandchildren, Ralph Lester Walston III, Michael Walston, Hannah Walston, Meredith and Caleb Walston, Kennedy, Sydney, Corvin and Aly Brown and Addison Robinson. Also surviving her are many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life for Irene Riggin Walston will be 1 p.m. today, Feb. 25, at the Crisfield Church of God on Maryland Ave. in Crisfield with Dr. Raymond Crowley and Rev. LeBron Palmer officiating. Interment will follow in Sunnyridge Memorial Park with grandsons serving as pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of the deceased to Church of God World Missions on behalf of Benson and Cathy Vaughn Ministries c/o Crisfield Church of God, 134 Maryland Avenue, Crisfield, MD 21817. Arrangements are in the care of Bradshaw & Sons Funeral Home. To send condolences to the family, visit www.bradshawandsonsfuneralhome.com.